The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-08-11

ii Is natural for the masses to initiate their re-
ligious leaders.
2 There is call for very direct and bold
preaching. Doubtless some Scribes and Phari-
sees were among Christ's hearers. They were
not spared. No names were called, but the
whole class was denounced. OF course eer-
tain few had the benefit of the universal ad-
mission that "There is no rule without excep-
tion." As a fact, comparisons are wrong and
TO be condemned in a speaker, but we notice it
was not Jesus who made the comparison.
When Christ rebuked them they no doubt said,
g We are as good as the Pharisees." They made
Pharisaic hypocrisy their standard instead of
following the example of our Savior. The
Pharisees were so generally outrageous in
morals, so eoldly formal in piety, so literal in
Interpretation, that jesus was warranted in his
personal, or class, attack on them. While im-
pertinenee is offensive aud improper, so is
! fabby, apologetie, homeless preaching unbe-
coming.
3. Do not be content with rites, ceremonies.
forms. professions. Be pous. Do not rest in
the letter of the law. and be careless about its
spirit. (Ro., ?: D, 29) A man cannot be so
strict IN conforming to any outward require
ment as TO make up for spirit of disobedienee.
The hands cannot DO so diligent as 10 excuse
the heart from action. The objection made to
mere morality is we'll taken. So we do not
want a mere model. We need the Vitalizer-
| the Holy Spirit.
A. Avoid contempt, hatred, Of any one, lest
il may develop into murder All murder be-
gins IN anger. and hence wrath is a degree of
murder. Discard all peevish and hateful epi-
thets of others. Do not call each other names
in the way of abuse, ridicule, animosity. Do
not style fellOw-ereature blockhead or apos-
tate. Stop all nicknames. But remember
that after all Jesus is trying to reach the secret
of human action. What he rebukes is not so
1 nt1ph fha aeF rIc tttk Nha
which prompts them. Check all ill-feeling.
Be reconeiled and do your best to reconcile any
| persons who may act unkindly toward you.
| All bad feeling Is incipent murder.
;. Christians must settle troubles, differ
ences. among themselves, and not carry such
matters into court. u Cor, 6: 6, ~ Quite a
number of religious bodies have rules forbid
ding members going to law with each, and
| cutting of any who violate such rules. Is is
a cause of great reproach 10 the Church and a
sore wounding of Christ when his followers
seek TO settle quarrels by resort to civil magis-
| trates. First of all, effort should be made TO
adjust matters pleasantly. When two cannot
harmonic. the difficulty should be brought to
the attention of the proper authorities of the
| Church. Of course, in cases of criminality,
| where even the civil authority makes it obliga-
/ tory to reveal the wrong doing 70 the proper
/ officers. compliance must be made.
8. Never worship without doing your utmost
to settle all difficulties. The invitation to the
Holy Communion read each time the Holy
Supper is celebrated in the Episcopal Church,
is as suitable as it is beautiful: ''Ye who do
truly and earnestly repent you Of your sins,
and are in love and charity with your neigh
bors, and intend to lead new life, following
the Commandments of God draw
near" We cannot worship God aeeeptably if
we refuse to treat men justly. Our worship,
| proving empty and unsatisfactory, might often
be explained by the fact we have not been
careful first TO adjust every unpleasantness.
Members Of families, in the early days Of the
Church, before going to the Lords supper,
used to ask each the others forgiveness.
z. Selfexamination before worship and spe-
eially prior to partaking Of the Holy Eucharist,
is a plain duty. Try to remember how you
stand with all persons, (V. 3d. and see if il be
not possible to secure friendliness. St. Paul
in his instructions TO communicates, was care
ful to caution tEem about self soul-inspection